DirectTextbook.com
Type of site | Comparison shopping website |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Bainbridge Island, Washington |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Industry | Internet, Comparison Shopping, E-commerce |
| Products | Textbooks, used textbooks |
| Services | Online shopping |
| URL | https://www.directtextbook.com |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Launched | 2002 |
| Current status | Active |
| Written in | PHP |
DirectTextbook.com is a U.S.-based online textbook price comparison engine.[1] The platform aggregates and compares real-time prices from over 200 online bookstores, helping users find options to buy, rent, or sell new, used, and digital textbooks, as well as trade titles and K–12 textbooks. Its primary users are students and educators.[2]
History
[edit]DirectTextbook.com was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Bainbridge Island, Washington. [3] In 2015, DirectTextbook published a study showing that 72% of students preferred printed textbooks over eTextbooks.[4] A follow-up survey in 2021 found that this number had declined to 62%, with only a 2% increase in eTextbook preference and a larger rise in students reporting no clear preference.[5]
Overview
[edit]Users search the DirectTextbook website by book title, author, or ISBN.[6] The search engine retrieves real-time pricing data from major retailers such as Amazon, Chegg, AbeBooks, Alibris, and eBay, smaller independent vendors, and databases such as WorldCat, the world’s largest library catalog.[7]
The platform includes booklists, price and stock alerts, eBook cross-search, access to store-specific offers, and free tools related to student finances, such as the Student Budget Tool and the Student Debt Destroyer guide.[6] According to ConsumerAffairs, platforms such as DirectTextbook can help reduce textbook rental and purchase costs by up to 50%.[8]
Other activities
[edit]DirectTextbook.com conducts and publishes research on educational trends, producing survey-based insights into students’ preferences and learning behaviors.[9] The platform also supports student affordability through scholarship contests, awarding cash prizes to students to help cover costs associated with textbooks and other educational materials.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Eric Griffith,"How to Buy E-Textbooks 101". Los Angeles Times. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Rob Garrick,"Why are so many university students anxious to buy houses?". theglobeandmail.com. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Direct Textbook Essay Scholarship Contest". unigo.com. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Joshua Bolkan,"Survey: Most Students Prefer Traditional Texts over E-Books". campustechnology.com. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Jamie Johnson,"Generation Z and the Future of Print Marketing". business.com. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ a b Saikat Basu,"The 10 Best Sites To Rent Or Buy College TextBooks Cheaply". makeuseof.com. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Doreen Christensen,"Five ways to save big bucks on college textbooks". baltimoresun.com. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Mark Huffman,"The year-end dilemma of selling college textbooks". consumeraffairs.com. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ "Can Students Skip Out on Textbook Taxes? DirectTextbook.com Explains". markets.businessinsider.com. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Direct Textbook Essay Scholarship Contest". scholarships.com. Retrieved 3 July 2025.